Miesha Tate: Ronda Rousey is “Emotionally Unstable”
The bantamweight UFC champ also had words for Conor McGregor.
Reigning UFC bantamweight champion Miesha Tate won her belt from Holly Holm and has never actually defeated former champ Ronda Rousey. With her calling out the Rowdy One with recent comments about Rousey’s mental state, it’s easy to believe she’s setting the stage to perhaps one day have a rematch. Or she could just be indulging in the pro MMA fighter’s beloved pastime of talking smack at every opportunity outside the Octagon.
In a recent interview on SiriusXM’s Rush Fight Club, Tate addressed Rousey reading Paige VanZant the riot act during a photoshoot and her assessment was blunt: “I think Ronda is somewhat emotionally unstable,” Tate told hosts RJ Clifford and Steve Cofield, “And I think that’s been characteristic for a long time.”
After dropping that depth charge, Tate qualified her statement, or seemed to. “Doesn’t mean [Rousey] fights any worse for it,” she continued, “I’m not knocking her as an athlete but emotionally she’s just got some things that are a little bit strange and I think that that was one of them.”
Later, during the same conversation, Tate indicated she was referring to the off-screen Ronda Rousey, the way the storied fighter behaves when cameras aren’t rolling. “I feel like things that sometimes people don’t see on the massive media outlets is the way Ronda is behind scenes.” Rousey’s behavior toward VanZant, she said, “is just one example.”
“This is a big reason why Ronda and I don’t get along,” Tate said, “It’s not even the career, it’s the difference in our personal perspectives. That’s why we have the rivalry. We just happen to also be in the same profession and fighting in the same weight class and that’s what people are really interested in but truly this is where I disagree with Ronda the most.”
In the same conversation, Tate also had words of advice for star Conor McGregor about his conflicts with the UFC regarding press conferences and other promotional appearances:
The UFC has spent a tremendous amount of money promoting Conor McGregor and he’s made a lot of money – for himself and for them – but it’s teamwork. They’re both working hard to create something great and it has been great but don’t change now Conor. Stay the course. This is what you’ve been doing this is what got you here. Don’t get big headed and now think that you’re above it because I think that’s the downfall.
Miesha Tate’s next appearance in the cage will be on July 9th at UFC 200 in Vegas and she’ll be defending her title against Amanda Nunes. Could a victory then set up an eventual re-match between her and Rousey? At this point, we can only hope so.
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